Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 6

Written Answers. - Census Figures.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

392 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way in which the most recent census figures will affect planning or strategy changes in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24273/03]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Éamon Ó Cuív)

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established last year with a clear mandate to produce a more co-ordinated engagement by the State with communities around the country as they pursue their own development.

The Deputy will also be aware from replies to previous questions of both the range and nature of schemes coming within the remit of the Department. The value to my Department of census data in the development and implementation of policy initiatives across the range of its activities is therefore considerable.

Census results and trends will help to inform the development and implementation of policy by my Department including: the use of such data in relation to the Irish language, both within and outside the Gaeltacht, to inform the development of policy in relation to the maintenance and promotion of the language; the use of census results in reviewing and monitoring the current effective ness and future development of a range of schemes particularly those operated in the Gaeltacht and on the islands; and the consideration of additional areas for inclusion in the CLÁR programme as instanced by the extension this year of CLÁR to include a further 189 district electoral divisions bringing the total to 890 in 18 counties. This extension increased the total population covered by CLÁR from 284,000 to 362,000; the identification of disadvantaged communities, and the consequent prioritisation of funding under various local and community development programmes and initiatives and the longitudinal assessment of the effectiveness and impact of departmental programmes and policies.

Questions Nos. 393 and 394 answered with Question No. 80.